Present perfect tense ( present perfect) formed using an auxiliary verb tohave (for third party singular (he, she, it) – has ) and the third form of the semantic verb (see the third column in the table of irregular verbs).
Scheme:
have/has+3rd form of the semantic verb
Example:
I have done the work. I got the job done.
We have done the work. We got the job done.
You have done the work. You've done the job.
He (she, it) has done the work. He (she, it) did the job.
They have done the work. They got the job done.
To form interrogative form, we transfer the auxiliary verb to have forward and put it before the subject:
Example:
Have you done the work yet? Have you already completed the work?
In negative form added to the auxiliary verb to have particle not.
Example:
I have not done the work yet. I haven't done the work yet.
Use of the present perfect tense.
1. Expresses a completed action related to the present moment through this result. This tense is translated into Russian by the verb perfect form in the past tense (“bought”, “made”).
Examples:
2. The present continuous tense can express an action or state that started in the past, lasted for a period of time and is still ongoing. The period of time during which an action occurs is indicated by a phrase with a preposition for(for). The moment from which the action began is indicated by the word since(since then).
Examples:
Word already (already) can be used in interrogative or affirmative sentences. It can occur either at the end of a sentence or between the auxiliary and main verbs. Place in a sentence does not affect the overall meaning.
Examples:
Word yet can be used in both interrogative and negative sentences. In interrogative sentences it means “already”, in negative sentences “yet”. Yet always comes at the end of a sentence.
Examples:
In the present perfect tense in negative sentences it is possible to use the words never (never). In interrogative sentences never is replaced by the word ever (ever).
Examples:
Present Perfect (present perfect) is used to denote an action that took place in the past and has a result in the present.
Education Present Perfect Tense
The Present Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb to have in the present tense ( have, has) and the past participle form of the semantic verb. This form of the verb is also called the “third form of the verb” and is designated conventionally as V3 (verb 3). For regular verbs this is the infinitive ending –ed, for irregular verbs- third column V ):
I have played.
He has played.
We have played.
Interrogative form: have (has) + subject + V3:
Have I played?
Has he played?
Have we played?
In a special question, the necessary interrogative pronoun is placed before have (has):
Where have I played?
Why has he played?
With whom have you played?
In a question to the subject, an interrogative pronoun who is placed before the predicate instead of the subject itself (in this question the auxiliary verb has is always used):
Who has worked?
Negative form: have (has) + not + V3:
I have not played.
He has not played.
We have not played.
Interrogative negative form: have (has) + subject + not + V3 or haven"t (hasn"t) + subject + V3:
Have I not played?
Has he not played?
Have we not played?
Abbreviations used in colloquial speech:
have not = haven"t = "ve not
has not = hasn't = "s not
have = "ve
has = "s
I haven't played. = I"ve not played.
I've played.
Haven"t I played ?
| Affirmative form | Negative form |
|---|---|
| I have play ed He (she, it) has play ed We have play ed You have play ed They have play ed | I have not play ed He (she, it) has not play ed We have not play ed You have not play ed They have not play ed |
| Interrogative form | Interrogative-negative form |
| Have I played? Has he (she, it) play ed ? Have we play ed ? Have you play ed ? Have them play ed ? | Have I not play ed ? Has he (she, it) not play ed ? Have we not play ed ? Have you not play ed ? Have they not play ed ? |
Using Present Perfect Tense
Present Perfect is used:
1. To express an action that took place in the past, but has a result in the present. The presence of such a result connects the past action with the present:
I have lost my keys. I lost my keys.
(I lost it in the past, but there is a result - now I don’t have them, I can’t open the door)
Has the rain stopped? Has the rain stopped?
(interesting in the lack of rain at the moment)
The duration of the action may not be specified (as in the previous sentences) or may be expressed by adverbs just, ever, never, already, yet(in questions and negatives), lately recently, for Lately, recently recently. In this case, the sentence should not contain adverbs indicating the past tense:
I have never been in London. I've never been to London.
He hasn't come home yet. He hasn't come home from work yet.
But compare:
My mom has already cooked dinner. Mom has already prepared lunch.
My mom already cooked dinner yesterday. Mom already prepared lunch yesterday. (yesterday
indicates past tense, which is why it is used )
Note. WITH adverb just now the Past Simple Tense is just used:
I broke it just now. I just broke it.
2. To express both a one-time action and an action repeated several times in the past (the sentence may contain the words often often, twice twice etc.) and in sentences answering the question how much/many how much:
I have read that book twice. I read this book twice.
I have been in London three times. I've been to London three times.
I "ve ironed 8 skirts. I ironed 8 skirts.
3. Present Perfect is used with adverbs denoting periods of time that have not yet elapsed today today, this week this week, this month this month, this year this year and so on.:
Have you listened to the radio today? Did you listen to the radio today? (not expired today)
It has not rained this week. There was no rain this week. (this week has not expired)
But if the specified period of time has already ended, then the Past Simple Tense form is used:
I have drunk coffee this morning. I drank coffee this morning.(said in the morning)
I drank coffee this morning. I drank coffee this morning.(the morning has already passed, it is said, for example, in the afternoon or evening)
4. The Present Perfect is used to express an action that began in the past and continued until the moment of speech or is still ongoing at the moment of speech. The sentence must contain the prepositions since (from some past moment to the present) or for during. At the same time, the Present Perfect can be translated either in the present tense or in the past, depending on the situation.
a) with verbs not used in the Continuous (for more details, see):
I haven't seen you for ages. I haven't seen you for ages.(I didn’t see it and just saw it at the moment of speaking)
Has not been here since two o'clock. He (has been) here since two o'clock.(started at two o'clock and is still here now)
I have known him for three years. I know him for three years.
b) with some verbs instead of Present Perfect Continuous, if the speaker wants to focus not on the duration, but on the fact of the action.
I have lived in Moscow for five years. I have been living in Moscow for five years.(fact is important)
I have been living in Moscow for five years. I have been living in Moscow for five years.(duration, process is important)
The Present Perfect is also used with the conjunction since since. In that case Present The Perfect is used in the main clause, and in the subordinate clause starting with since, the Past Simple is used:
I have written only one letter to my relatives since I left. I've only written one letter since I left.
I haven't letters received from him since he left. I haven't received any letters from him since he left.
Present Perfect is also used with the adverb since since:
We moved to a new flat last year, and we haven't met our friends since. We moved last year, and haven't seen our friends since then.
5. The Present Perfect is used to express a perfect future action instead of the Future Perfect in adverbial subordinate clauses of time and condition, which are introduced by conjunctions after, when, as soon as, until (till), if etc. In this case, the Present Perfect is translated into the future tense of the perfect form:
He will wait for you until you have come. He will wait for you until you come.
Usage of Present Perfect Tense
- An action, the result of which is evident in the present tense (in Russian it corresponds to the past tense).
- An action repeated several times in the past.
- With adverbial words denoting periods of time that have not yet expired.
- To express an action that began in the past and continued until the moment of speech or is still ongoing at the moment of speech: instead of the Present Perfect Continuous (in Russian it corresponds to the present and past tense).
- Future perfect action in subordinate clauses of time and conditions (in Russian it corresponds to the future tense).
I am sure that many people who study a language on their own reach the Present Perfect and... this is where their study ends, because according to the explanations from the textbook, not everyone can understand How is it? and Why is this? In this article I will not rewrite the rules, I will try to clearly and clearly explain what Present Perfect is.
First of all, let me remind you of the formation of this time.
We form the statement using an auxiliary verb have or has and the main verb in the third form, which in grammar is called Past Participle. If the verb is regular (regular), then the ending is added to it -ed, if the verb is irregular (irregular), then we take the third form from the third column of the table of irregular verbs. In this article I will denote Past Participle as V3:
In negation, a negative particle is added to the auxiliary verb not:
For education interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject ( Subject):
Not all special questions can be asked in the Present Perfect. For example, a question with a word is impossible, so in the Present Perfect interlocutors are only interested in the result. If we are interested in time, then we need to use another grammatical construction to express action in the past.
Using the Present Perfect
Present Perfect - present perfect tense. From the name it is clear that this tense denotes an action that was performed in the past, but is connected with the present. How is it connected to the present? How do we understand that it is connected?
From theory, you probably remember that this tense should be used when talking about the result of an action; if the action began in the past, but is still ongoing; and also if we talk about our life experience; when the action took place in a period of time that has not yet ended... Surely you have already read about this many times in books or heard from a teacher.
I will try to explain to you step by step and clearly in what cases English language Present Perfect is used. I will try to give situations from life that you encounter every day, and in which it is appropriate and even necessary to use Present Perfect. In this article I will give you small tasks, by completing which you will be able to see the importance of using this time. I would like to note that my explanation will be significantly different from those you read in grammar books.
What makes the Present Perfect different from other tenses? These are his markers (they are also called qualifiers, time indicators). Let us highlight the main markers of this time:
I'm going to tell you about each of them because each marker reflects the main points of time use.
1. Just (just now)
The tense indicator just is often used with Present Perfect and indicates that an action has just occurred and there is a certain visible and significant result.
In the statement, the place of just is after the auxiliary verb:
Just is not used in negatives. In general matters it is extremely rare.
Just is used in special questions with question words ( , Why, etc.) You may encounter questions like this with just :
What has just happened? - What just happened?
What has he just done/ said? - What did he just do/say?
What just happened? Someone just broke a cup.
When did this action take place? In the recent past, we don't know exactly when.
What do we know? We only know the result of an action. And we can say this in Present Perfect:
What did they just do? They just cleaned the room.
We don't know the exact time, but we have visible result- the room is clean.
They have just cleaned the room.
What did he just do? He just woke up.
The time of his awakening is unknown to us (although there is a clock in the photo), but we see the result: he is no longer sleeping.
He has just woken up.
What did you just do? You just read the explanation. The action is completed, there is a result: you learned about the word just.
You can say:
I have just read the explanation.
Exercise: Having performed some action and received a result, talk about its completion:
I have just had my breakfast.
You can look out the window and comment on what just happened there:
The tall man has just crossed the street. Two girls have just entered the shop.
2. Already/ yet (already; yet)
Present Perfect is used to describe an action that has already happened or has not yet happened. In these cases, we are invariably interested in the result, not in time. To make it clearer, let's look at an example from life.
Imagine that you come to a store with a shopping list.
Having already done some shopping, you stop to see what you have already purchased.
Let's consider different situations.
You read and translate complex text. You have only translated ten pages so far. You are still working with the text. You say:
I have translated ten pages so far. - I have translated ten pages so far.
Your friend is a writer. He writes novels. On this moment he has published one novel and continues to write. About him you will say:
He has published one novel so far. - He has published one novel so far.
The company you work for is expanding rapidly. At the moment, you have opened twenty new offices throughout the country and the company continues to grow:
Our company has opened twenty new offices so far. - Our company has opened twenty new offices at the moment.
All the actions described above took place in the past, but we evaluate their results at the moment while the action continues.
Question: How many paragraphs of this article have you read so far?
5. Never / ever (never / ever)
If you decide to indulge in memories and talk about your life experience, then without time Present Perfect you can't get by.
Do you love to travel? What countries have you visited?
I have been to France. - I was in France.
I have been to Italy. - I was in Italy.
I have been to Spain. - I was in Spain.
It doesn’t matter at all when you went to these countries, the main thing is that you visited there, got impressions, and can talk about it.
Which countries have you never been to? You can use negation or the word never to talk about it. The place of never in a sentence is after the auxiliary verb have/has:
I haven't been to India. - I have never been to India. - I've never been to India.
I haven’t been to China. - I have never been to China. - I have never been to China.
I haven't been to Japan. - I have never been to Japan. - I've never been to Japan.
If the word never is used, then the negative particle not is not needed because never itself has a negative meaning.
You want to ask questions to your interlocutor. Use the word ever:
Have you ever been to London? - Have you ever been in London?
I really hope that my explanation helped you understand the essence of the Present Perfect tense. Send your feedback
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Good day to you, Dear friends! Today I will tell you about the “Present Perfect Tense in English”. In Russian, you will not find an analogue to this grammatical structure and therefore it may seem that understanding the rules of application is not easy. But that's not true.
From this article you will learn:
Rule and examples
Time group Perfect- This is the third main group of tense verb conjugations in British.
If we talk about an analogy with Russian, then we translate Perfect.
There is only one important rule to remember:
The present perfect tense in English is used only when you want to focus attention not on the action itself, but on its result.
And if the result of an action can be observed in the present, then this will be The Present Perfect Tense.
They also say that “the result is obvious.”
Let's look at examples and you will see that in practice it is easy to separate the perfect from the ordinary past:
- I have already cooked breakfast. — I have already prepared breakfast.
- I washed up yesterday. — I washed the dishes yesterday.
There's a noticeable difference between these two examples, isn't there? The first example is the Present Perfect. You probably noticed that although the translation sounds like an event in the past, it corresponds to the past perfect in Russian. While in the second statement we use imperfect.
Let's state the facts
First of all, I propose to consider the rules for composing affirmative sentences in Perfect. As usual, we preserve the direct word order and reduce it to the form:
Person + predicate + object + adverbial tense.
Compare the sentences in perfect English and try to draw a conclusion:
| I | |||
| He |
You, of course, noticed a pattern: the predicate consists of two words: have - auxiliary, in a suitable form, and the main one, conveying the meaning of the statement, with the ending ed. During the Perfect group we always use semantic word in the third form, in British it is called Participle II. For regular verbs it is initial + ed.
For irregular verbs, the appropriate meaning can be taken from the third column of the table of irregular verbs, which is in any dictionary.
We complete tasks without errors
Often in tests and quizzes you can find exercises where you need to open the brackets and put the word in the correct tense form.
Among the proposed tasks, circumstances of time or clarifying sentences that are a consequence of the main one will help you choose Progressive. Let's practice:
Example:
She already (close) the window. – She has already closed the window.
- We already (discuss) this article.
- I (watch) this film, and I don’t like it.
- My friend (explain) me the way and I came in time.
If you complete the task correctly, then have/has and the ending ed will appear in each line for the words in brackets.
We ask about the results
Using the present perfect tense to compose interrogative sentences makes sense when you want to know its result, and not just “WAS OR NOT.”
Have you ever been in Moscow?
In this case, the scheme of the proposal corresponds to the scheme of the general question:
Helper + subject + predicate
Please note that the predicate remains unchanged - V3.
Regret or pride
Negation in the Perfect usually suggests that the speaker is sorry or proud that something did not happen. And again, what is meant is not the action itself, but the consequence:
I have never visited New-York.
She has not (hasn’t) read this book.
Have you noticed the peculiarity of constructing negation in the perfect tense? Namely, never or not can be used for negation - as in other tense groups. In the first case, the negative word is translated as a double negative “never”, but in British both of these negatives cannot be present in the same part of the statement, so we choose only one.
The Present Perfect Tense is often found in oral speech and therefore, in order to easily apply it, exercises in englishdom courses will be indispensable. Classes with a Russian-speaking teacher and native speaker. Mobile app, conversation clubs for practice. One-on-one lessons with a teacher. The cost of one lesson is 590 rubles.
IN writing indicators of our grammatical form serve: already, ever, never, yet. If you come across such words in the test, you can be sure that you have a perfect conjugation in front of you.
New ones will help you determine which time group your proposal belongs to: present, past or future.
Subscribe to my blog, find even more useful articles and rules, and you will also receive as a gift, completely free, an excellent basic phrasebook in three languages, English, German and French. Its main advantage is that there is Russian transcription, so even without knowing the language, you can easily master colloquial phrases.
I was with you, Natalya Glukhova, I wish you a good day!
Affirmative form The Present Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb to have in the appropriate person and number (has - for the 3rd person singular, have - for all other persons in the singular and all persons in the plural) and the past participle (Participle II - participles II) semantic verb.
to have + Participle II
I have translated the text. I translated the text.
He has written two letters. He wrote two letters.
Interrogative form is formed by moving the auxiliary verb, which is placed before the subject. If there is a question word, it is placed before the auxiliary verb.
Have did you translate this text? Have you translated this text?
What have did you translate? What did you translate?
| Have I cooked? | Have we cooked? |
| Have you cooked? | Have you cooked? |
| Has he / she / it cooked? | Have they cooked? |
Abbreviations:
Along with full form Abbreviated versions of the affirmative, negative and interrogative-negative forms are also used, especially in colloquial speech.
- 1. B affirmative form The spelling and pronunciation of the auxiliary verb have/has changes:
I've = I have
He's =He has
We've = We have
- 2. B negative form- two abbreviation options:
a) negative particle not remains unchanged, only the auxiliary verb is reduced:
I've not = I have not
He's not = He has not
We've not = We have not
b) negative particle not loses the letter o and merges with the auxiliary verb:
I haven't= I have not
He hasn't= He has not
The same change occurs in the interrogative-negative form:
Haven't did you work?
Hasn't he written?
Using the Present Perfect
Present Perfect is used:
- 1. To express an action that has already taken place in the previous period before the moment of speech, but has a direct connection with the present moment. This connection to the present moment manifests itself:
a) as a result of an action that is available at the moment of speech:
I've read this article. I have read this article. (I know its contents, I can tell you.)
Doesn't have a letter written. He wrote a letter. (The result is a letter that can be read and sent.)
b) in sentences with words denoting an unfinished period of time: today - Today, this morning - this morning, this week - this week, this month - this month etc., as well as with adverbs of indefinite time: ever - ever, never - never, often - often, already - already, yet - Bye, more, just - just now, lately - recently(in recent days, weeks), recently - recently(behind recent months or years) recently, up to now - still, rarely - rarely, once - one day, once upon a time etc. (most of them are more often used in interrogative and negative sentences).
I haven’t seen her this week. I haven't seen her this week.
I've never seen her before. I've never seen her before.
Has she come back yet? Is she already back?
She has published a new book recently. She recently published a new book.
Have you ever been to London? Have you ever been to London?
Please note:
In the above cases, the verb in the Present Perfect is translated into Russian by a verb in the past tense.
- 2. To express an action that began in the past, but has not yet ended (continuing), often with verbs that are not used in the Continuous form. At the same time, an unfinished period of time is often indicated by circumstances of time with the preposition for - during(for years - for many years, for ages - for ages, for three weeks - within three weeks etc.), with the preposition since - With(since Sunday - from Sunday, since 10 o'clock - from 10 o'clock, since 1990 - since 1990 etc.), and also subordinate clause with the conjunction since - since then.
I haven’t seen you for ages. We haven't seen each other for ages.
Has not been here for three weeks already. He's been here for three weeks now.
I haven’t heard from him since August. I haven't heard from him since August.
We have known her since 1990. We have known her since 1990.
Please note:
In this case, verbs in the Present Perfect can be translated into Russian by verbs in the past or present tense - depending on the context.
Note also the following:
The difference in the use of the Present Perfect and Simple Past/Past Indefinite is that Simple Past/Past Indefinite is always associated with a past period of time (which may be indicated or clear from the context) and expresses an action-fact, while Present Perfect is always associated with the present and expresses an action-result or acquired as a result of action experience.
Compare:
The Present Perfect is not used if there is an exact indication of time in the past (yesterday, last night, etc.), since in this case the connection with the present moment is broken. The presence of this connection - required condition present usage Perfect. If there is no such connection, then Simple Past/Past Indefinite is used.
Compare:
a) I have heard his speech and I liked it. I heard his performance and I liked it.
b) I heard his speech last night. I heard him speak last night.
In the first case (a), the time of the action is not specified, but it happened in the past and the connection with the present is expressed by the fact that you like it (the performance) even now - the Present Perfect is used. In the second case (b) the duration of action is indicated, and therefore Simple Past/Past Indefinite is used.
Compare also:
a) I have seen her this morning. I saw her this morning.
b) I saw her this morning. I saw her this morning.
In the first case (a), this can be said if the conversation takes place in the morning, the morning time has not yet expired. In the second case (b), this can be said if the conversation takes place during the day or evening, the morning time has already expired. With the expression this morning, the Present Perfect can only be used if the action took place before one o'clock in the afternoon. If it happened later, for example, at one thirty (13.30), then Simple Past/Past Indefinite is used, since, according to the British, “morning” lasts only until one o’clock in the afternoon.
- 3. The Present Perfect is also used in sentences in which the action, although it happened in the past, can be repeated.
I have seen wolves in this forest. I saw wolves in this forest. (It is implied that they can be found there and now.)
I saw wolves in this forest. I saw wolves in this forest. (The use of the Simple Past expresses a statement of fact.)
Compare also:
a) Pushkin wrote many wonderful poems. Pushkin wrote many beautiful poems.
b) Yevtushenko has written many wonderful poems. Yevtushenko wrote many beautiful poems.
In the first sentence (a) we used Simple Past/Past Indefinite - wrote, since Pushkin is no longer alive and the possibility of repeating the action, i.e., writing more poetry, is excluded. In the second sentence (b) the verb in the Present Perfect is used - has written, since the author is alive and, perhaps, will write many more beautiful poems.
- 4. The Present Perfect is used in answers to a question asked in the Present Perfect (unless the tense is specified in the answer). If the time of action in the answer is specified, then it is given in Simple Past/Past Indefinite.
Have you seen the new English film? Have you seen the new English film?
Yes, I have (seen the new English film). Yes, I saw (the new English film).
But: Yes, I saw it yesterday. Yes, I saw him yesterday.
Please note:
If the dialogue is not limited to one question and answer, but continues, then the first one or two questions and answers are used in the Present Perfect, and the conversation continues in the Simple Past / Past Indefinite, because The main thing is not actions, but circumstances.
Husband: Where have you been? Husband: Where have you been?
Wife: I’ve been at the sales. Wife: I was in the store (at a discount sale).
Husband: What have you bought? (What did you buy?) Husband: What did you buy?
Wife: I’ve bought (I bought) yellow pajamas. Wife: I bought yellow pajamas.
Husband: Why did you buy yellow? I told you never to buy yellow for me. Husband: Why yellow? I told you to never buy yellow for me.
Wife: I couldn't resist it. They were very much reduced. Wife: I couldn't resist. They were so cheap. (They were greatly discounted).
Place of adverbs in sentences when used with the Present Perfect form
- 1. Adverbs ever, never, often, rarely, just, as a rule, are placed before the semantic verb.
I have never read that book. I've never read this book.
Doesn't have often been there. He visited there often.
They have just left the house. They just left.
- 2. Adverb already also placed before the semantic verb in affirmative sentences, and in interrogative sentences, as a rule, at the end of the sentence and usually expresses surprise in the latter case (already with a connotation of the meaning “so soon”).
Have you translated the article already?
Have you really (so soon) translated the article?
- 3. Adverbs lately, recently, once and combinations up to now, many times, as a rule, are placed at the end of the sentence.
I haven’t received any letters from him lately. I haven't received any letters from him lately.
We have seen him recently. We saw him recently.
- 4. Adverb yet is used in negative sentences in the sense of “still” and is usually placed at the end of the sentence. In interrogative sentences it means “already” and is also placed at the end of the sentence.
Hasn’t finished his work yet. He hasn't finished his work yet.
Have they come back yet? Have they returned yet?
Present Perfect is the present perfect tense, which denotes an action that has already taken place in the previous period before the moment of speech, but has a direct connection with the present moment.